China, Indonesia and Peru are by far the largest tin mining and refining countries, together accounting for 80% of tin mine production and 72% of refined tin production in 2003. PT Timah and PT Koba Tin are the two major companies in Indonesia, while all production in Peru is from the integrated Minsur operation. Tin mining in China comprises thousands of small non-mechanised mines and a few more modern larger operations, including Yunnan Tin.

The long period of low tin prices resulted in pro-longed under- investment and a decline in the tin mining industries of Malaysia and Thailand, although they both still have large tin refining capacity, and Malaysia has access to some of the largest known resources of tin. Malaysia Smelting Corporation (MSC) in Malaysia and Thaisarco in Thailand operate large tin smelters and refineries that depend principally on imported concentrates. Unofficial exports from Indonesia used to keep them supplied but these have dried up since 2002. MSC has started to acquire interests in Australian and Indonesian tin mining companies.

Unlike other base metals, it is difficult to predict how the tin supply is going to respond to the higher prices because so much production is dependent on small, "unconventional" or artisanal miners, mainly in Indonesia and China. Chinese production is growing, but the increased output is being absorbed by domestic demand.

The use of tin in solder has increased rapidly in recent years, particularly in China, with the boom in consumer electrical appliances and electronics. Demand for tin has been greatly enhanced by the move to lead-free solders, backed up by legislation in Europe, Japan and China. Solders that typically contain about 63% tin are being replaced chiefly with solders containing over 95% tin, creating a 35% increase in tin demand (allowing for weight differences) for the same task. The conversion is expected to be almost total in Japan and Europe by the end of 2006.

1. Summary

2. Properties, occurrence and resources of tin

2.1 Properties and occurrence
2.2 Occurrence
2.3 Resources

3. Mining and processing of tin

3.1 Mining of tin
3.2 Processing of tin: 3.2.1 Concentration; 3.2.2 Smelting and refining; 3.2.3 Secondary tin
3.3 Specifications for tin
3.4 Production costs for tin

4. Tin production data

4.1 World tin output: 4.1.1 Supply and demand balance
4.2 Regional tin output
4.3 Tin production by country: 4.3.1 Production of tin-in-concentrates by country; 4.3.2 Production of refined tin by country; 4.3.3 Secondary tin production
4.4 Production of tin by company: 4.4.1 Production of tin-in-concentrates by company; 4.4.2 Production of refined tin by company
4.5 Future tin supplies

5. Notes on tin producing and consuming countries

5.1 Argentina
5.2 Australia: 5.2.1 Tin production by company; 5.2.1.1 Ardlethan mine ? Marlborough Resources; 5.2.1.2 Greenbushes tantalum-tin mine ? Sons of Gwalia; 5.2.1.3 Renison Bell mine ? Bluestone Nominees; 5.2.1.4 Collingwood project ? Bluestone Nominees; 5.2.1.5 Elsmore alluvial project ? Malachite Resources; 5.2.1.6 Douglas project ? Basin Minerals; 5.2.1.7 Other tin deposits
5.3 Belgium: 5.3.1 Tin production; 5.3.1.1 Metallo-Chimique International; 5.3.1.2 Hydrometal
5.4 Bolivia: 5.4.1 Tin resources; 5.4.2 Mine production of tin; 5.4.2.1 Huanuni tin mine; 5.4.2.2 Colquiri tin mine; 5.4.2.3 Caracoles tin mine; 5.4.2.4 Small mines and cooperatives; 5.4.2.5 Other tin mining operations; 5.4.3 Refined tin production
5.5 Brazil: 5.5.1 Tin resources in Brazil; 5.5.2 Production of tin-in-concentrates and refined tin; 5.5.2.1 Paranapanema; 5.5.2.2 Ebesa and small miners; 5.5.2.3 Cesbra; 5.5.2.4 Best Metais e Soldas; 5.5.2.5 Past operations
5.6 Burundi
5.7 Cameroon
5.8 Canada
5.9 China: 5.9.1 Tin resources in China; 5.9.2 Mine and refined production of tin; 5.9.2.1 Yunnan Tin Corp; 5.9.2.2 Liuzhou China Tin; 5.9.2.3 Guangxi Nandan Longquan Mining & Smelting; 5.9.2.4 Other tin mining and smelting operations; 5.9.2.5 Dulong project ? International Barytex Resources
5.10 Congo (Democratic Republic)
5.11 Czech Republic
5.12 Egypt
5.13 France
5.14 Germany
5.15 Hong Kong
5.16 India
5.17 Indonesia: 5.17.1 Tin resources in Indonesia; 5.17.2 Mine and refined production of tin; 5.17.2.1 PT Timah Tbk; 5.17.2.2 PT Koba Tin; 5.17.2.3 Other producers; 5.17.2.4 Exploration projects
5.18 Italy
5.19 Japan
5.20 Kazakhstan
5.21 South Korea
5.22 Kyrgyzstan
5.23 Laos
5.24 Malaysia: 5.24.1 Resources; 5.24.2 Mine and refined production of tin; 5.24.2.1 Rahman Hydraulic Tin; 5.24.2.2 Delima Industries; 5.24.2.3 Chin Pek Soo Holdings; 5.24.2.4 Malaysian Smelting Corporation
5.25 Mexico
5.26 Mongolia
5.27 Morocco
5.28 Myanmar
5.29 Namibia
5.30 Netherlands
5.31 Niger
5.32 Nigeria
5.33 Peru
5.33.1 Minsur
5.34 Portugal
5.35 Russia: 5.35.1 Novosibirsk Tin Works (NOK); 5.35.1.1 Mining; 5.35.1.2 Smelting and refining; 5.35.2 Other operations
5.36 Rwanda
5.37 Singapore
5.38 South Africa
5.39 Spain
5.40 Taiwan
5.41 Thailand: 5.41.1 Resources; 5.41.2 Mine and refined production of tin; 5.41.2.1 Thailand Smelting and Refining Co (Thaisarco)
5.42 UK: 5.42.1 South Crofty ? Baseresult Holdings; 5.42.2 AMG Resources Corp; 5.42.3 Producers of tin alloys; 5.42.4 Tin Technology ? ITRI Ltd
5.43 USA: 5.43.1 Secondary tin production; 5.43.2 Producers of tin alloys; 5.43.3 National Defense Stockpile
5.44 Vietnam: 5.44.1 Tin reserves and production
5.45 Zimbabwe

6. Consumption of tin

6.1 Consumption of tin by region
6.2 Consumption of tin by country
6.3 Consumption of tin by end-use
6.4 Future demand for tin

7. Uses of tin

7.1 Solders: 7.1.1 Markets for tin in solders; 7.1.2 Electronic uses of solder; 7.1.2.1 Lead-free solders; 7.1.3 Structural uses of solder; 7.1.4 Outlook for tin demand in solder
7.2 Chemicals: 7.2.1 Organic tin compounds (organotins); 7.2.1.1 PVC stabilisers; 7.2.1.2 Catalysts; 7.2.1.3 Wood preservatives; 7.2.1.4 Pesticides; 7.2.1.5 Antifouling marine paints; 7.2.1.6 Agrochemicals; 7.2.2 Inorganic compounds; 7.2.2.1 Ceramics; 7.2.2.2 Glass manufacture; 7.2.2.3 Flame-retardants and smoke suppressants; 7.2.2.4 Gas sensors; 7.2.2.5 Indium-tin oxide (ITO); 7.2.2.6 Tin plating; 7.2.2.7 Pharmaceuticals; 7.2.2.8 Antistatics and flame-retardants in paper packaging; 7.2.3 Outlook for tin demand in chemicals
7.3 Tinplate: 7.3.1 Production of tinplate; 7.3.2 Producers of tinplate; 7.3.3 Tin consumption in tinplate; 7.3.4 Markets for tinplate; 7.3.4.1 Cans; 7.3.4.2 Non-packaging uses of tinplate; 7.3.5 Alternatives to tinplate; 7.3.6 Recycling of tinplate; 7.3.7 Outlook for tin demand in tinplate
7.4 Bronze, brass, white metal, babbitt and anti-friction metal: 7.4.1 Bronze and brass; 7.4.1.1 Bronze; 7.4.1.2 Brass; 7.4.2 White metal, babbitt and anti-friction alloys; 7.4.2.1 Babbitt and anti-friction alloys; 7.4.2.2 Pewter and white metal; 7.4.3 Outlook for tin demand in bronze, brass, white metal, babbitt and anti-friction metal
7.5 Other uses of tin: 7.5.1 Tinning; 7.5.2 Fusible alloys; 7.5.3 Brazing alloys; 7.5.4 Other alloys; 7.5.4.1 Aluminium-tin; 7.5.4.2 Type metal; 7.5.4.3 Dental alloys; 7.5.4.4 Medical alloys; 7.5.4.5 Electrical alloys; 7.5.4.6 Battery grid alloys; 7.5.4.7 Titanium alloys; 7.5.4.8 Niobium-tin superconductors; 7.5.4.9 Tin-iron; 7.5.4.10 Zirconium-tin; 7.5.4.11 Tin-lead; 7.5.4.12 Tin-cobalt; 7.5.5 Wrought tin; 7.5.5.1 Bottle top capsules; 7.5.6 Molten tin; 7.5.7 Tin powder; 7.5.8 Terneplate and other tin alloy coatings; 7.5.8.1 Tin-zinc coatings; 7.5.8.2 Tin-nickel coatings; 7.5.8.3 Terneplate; 7.5.8.4 Tin-copper; 7.5.9 Lead-free gunshot and fishing weights; 7.5.10 Wheel weights; 7.5.11 Outlook for tin demand in other uses

8. International trade in tin

8.1 Trade in tin ores and concentrates
8.2 Trade in unwrought tin metal
8.3 Trade in unwrought tin alloys
8.4 Trade in wrought articles of tin
8.5 Trade in tin waste and scrap

9. Prices of tin

9.1 Prices of tin concentrates
9.2 Prices of tin metal: 9.2.1 London Metal Exchange (LME) prices; 9.2.1.1 LME tin pricing; 9.2.1.2 LME tin price trends; 9.2.2 KLTM prices; 9.2.3 Metal Bulletin prices
9.3 Comparison of price quotations
9.4 Metals Week composite price
9.5 Outlook for tin prices

List of Tables

Table 1: World: Reserves and reserve base of tin, 2003
Table 2: Specifications for refined tin
Table 3: World: Approximate cost curve for primary tin production, 2001
Table 4: World: Tin supply and demand, 1994 to 2003
Table 5: Western world: Supply and demand balance for refined tin, 1994 to 2003
Table 6: World: Comparison by region of tin-in-concentrate and refined tin production, 1994 to 2003
Table 7: World: Production of tin-in-concentrates by country, 1994 to 2003
Table 8: World: Production of tin-in-concentrates by principal country, 1994 to 2003
Table 9: World: Production of refined tin by country, 1994 to 2003
Table 10: World: Production of refined tin by principal country, 1994 to 2003
Table 11: World: USGS estimates for recovery of secondary tin, 1994 to 2003
Table 12: World: Tin mining companies, 2003
Table 13: World: Tin refining companies, 2003
Table 14: World: Tin mining and smelting projects, 2004